Vacuum cleaner



Jan. 5, 1932. w. B. NORDHEM VACUUM CLEANER Filed July 2, 1930 l kinllln Patented Jan. 5, 1932 WIRING' B. NORDHEM, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS VACUUM CLEANER 1930. Serial N0. 465,379.

Application led July 2,

This invention has to do with improvements in vacuum cleaners and the like. The invention herein disclosed has reference particularly to improvements in the construe'- tion and arrangement of the dust cateherused for trapping and eliminating the ust and other material delivered by the vacuum cleaner.

One objectof the invention is to provide a dust catcher for the above purpose which is so constructedthat the dust and other foreign matter is caught and eliminated by means of a water or other liquid bath. Thatis to say, the trap serves to remove the foreign matter from the air by the use of a water bath.

In connection with the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide a construetion in which the dust catcher is a self-contained unit which can be attached to and removed from the body portion of the vacuum cleaner in much the same manner as in thel case of.I dust catchers in the form ofdust' bags such as have been previously used. In connection with the foregoing, it is' an object to provide a construction which can be readilyattached to Jor removed from the discharge Y portion of the vacuum cleaner proper.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of a construction which is s'o formed and -shaped that it naturally con; forms to the general contour of vacuum cleanersl of standard and well known design.

In this connection, it is an object to so shape the' parts that they will readily conform to the natural position of the handle by which the vacuum cleaner is moved and guided about; and at the same time, theshape of the parts is such that the dust and other foreign matter is trapped to best advantage without excessive removal of water or moisture from the dust catcher.

A further feature of the invention ielates to the provision of an arrangement in which the passage of the air through the device is such that free water and excess moisture are rejected from the air and are returned back into the trap.

A further feature in connection with the foregoing is the provision of means for removing thel'ast traces of free water from the .vacuum cleaner.

aimbeing delivered, said means taking theV form of screens, the position of which can be conveniently adjusted so :ne to secure the best possible operation.

A further feature of the invention relates to the provision o an arrangement such that danger of water working its'way back into the vacuum cleaner is practically eliminated. Another feature is to provide a cleaning opening through which the water and entrained dust and foreign matters may be readily removed from time to time and newA water introduced Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafterjdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings: M Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a conventional form of vacuum cleaner having applied thereto a dust catcher embodying the features Aof the present invention Figure 2 shows'a vertical section through' the dust catcher itself onenlarged' scale as compared to Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a horizontal section on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure ,4 shows a horizontabsection on the line 4 4. of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and l Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the adjustable screen element, av portion thereof being broken away to more conveniently illustrate the construction f the same.

Referringv first to Figure 1, the vacuum cleaner is designated `in its entirety by the numeral 6. It is provided with the usual suction or -inlet portion 7, the driving motor 8, and the handle 9 by means of which it is moved Fabout and guided over; the floor. In the construction illustrated, wheels 10 and 11 are provided for giving easy traction to the The air blast carrying with it the entrained dust and other foreign matter is delivered.

out through a connection 12 of the vacuum cleaner. This connection is generally circular in form; and heretofore 1t has been customary'fto receive the air blast from said connection into a bag or the like which is at` tached to the end of the throat 12 and connected thereto in any convenient manner. It-has also in the past been customary to support the end of said bag by means of a hook or theJ like connected to an eyelet on the handle 9. 1 c

According to thepresent invention, I eliminate the bag aforesaid and substitute in place therefor a dust catcher unit designated in its entirety by the numeral 13. The same includes a compartment or pocket 14, which constitutes a water bath or trap through which compartment and water the air current is compelled totravel, the fdust and other foreign matter being taken into the water and thereby effectively removed from the air.

For the above purpose, the present device includes the side walls 15 and 16 which extend for practically its fullheight. The water bath 14 is established by means of the bottom or floor 17, and the front and rear walls 18 and 19 in conjunction with the side walls 15 and 16. A neck 20 is provided of proper size and shape to be set over the end of the throat 12. Suitable hooks or the -like 21 are provided forconnecting the parts together so that the dust catcher will be properly retained in place during the operation of the vacuum cleaner.I

A partition 22 extends upwardly from the lower side of the neck 2O to a sufficient height to establish a. weir at the upper end of the inlet air passage 23. Anothei` partition 24 reaches downwardly to a` sufficiently low point rto establish an inverted weir beneath which passage 23 is carried up over the weir 22 and downwardly beneatl the. weir 24.

' The rear wall 19 is curved up and forwardly to establish a roof section 26 which constitutes the top of the upwardly extending passage 27. This passage thus extends'upwardly from the trap and is carried forwardly on an easy curve. The roof portion 26 just referred to is carried clear forward and down to establish a rearwardly extending lip 28 so that a pocket 29 is formed above said lip and the upwardly flowing current of air is trapped insaid pocket 29' and given a swirling action which serves to effectively throw out any free water and cause the same to be precipitated on the inner surface of the roof 26 and lip 28 whence'it can drip back towards the trap. l Y* There is a Vforward extension 30 from the upper end of the partition 24, which extension 30 is then carried' up and back on an angle to establish the front wall`31 of a delivery throat 32. Thev lip 28 is carried up pracI tically parallel to the wall 31 so as to establish the rear wall 33 of the delivery throat 32.

The walls 31 and 33 are given a rearward slant which brings them substantially parallel to the handle 9 so that the delivery throat 32 will naturally extend up .parallel to the handle 9 and canoccupy a position behindA the same when said handle stands in the natthus hold the dust catcher and handle firmly together.

It will be understood that the passages are of substantially rectangular cross section.

This fact is readily evident from examination of Figures 3 and 4. If desired, however,

be substituted; but the rectangular form lends itself admirably to the present service since it is possiblethereby to make use of fiat side plates 15 and 16.

If desired, a removable and adjustable screen trap 3,5 may be provided in the upper portion of the delivery throat 32.l This trap 35 is shown in perspective in Figure 5. It includes/the side walls 36 and 37 together with the front and back walls 38 and 39 which togethe\provide a telescoping member of such size and shape that it can be readily slipped into the throat 32 and retained thereinfby friction. Preferably. a cross handle 39 extends 'across between the side walls 36 and 37 and serves as a conven ient means for setting t'he member 35 into place and bringing it into the'desired adjustment.

Screens 40 and 41, preferably of fine mesh, are secured across the upper and lower portionsof the member 35 so that the air current passages of other cross sectional form might is compelled to flow through'said screen sections.

There is provided an opening 42 in the roof portion 26 through which water can be introduced into the trap, .and also through which opening the water and entrapped dust and otherffreign matter may be removed from time to time. A cap 43 serves to close 'saidopening in liquid and air tight fashion when the device is in operation.'

Preferably, a window 44 is placed in one of the side walls 16 oppositeto the passage 27. said Window extending up and down a sufficient distance to enable the operator to observe the water level at different times.

When the device is to be placed in operation, water is introduced substantially up to the level 45 shown 6in Figure 2. `It will be noticed that the cross sectional area of the passage 23 is substantiallyone-half that of the passage'29. Consequently, the depression of the water level aA given distance on y the left hand side of the weir 24 will result in raising said level only'approximately one- 24, whereupon it will bubble up through the water standing at the right hand side of the Weir 24 without causing the water to rise an excessive height in the passage 27, As the air bubbles violently up through the water, the dust^and other foreign matter will be effectively removed and caught by the water bath vso thatY the air rushing up against the roof 26 will be substantially ,clean and free of such matter. This air will, however, be heavily laden with water and moisture which will be effectively trapped and thrown out against the curvedportion terminating in the lip 28. Consequently, the air inding its way up throu l1 the passage 32 will be practically devoid o any' free water.v Any last traces of free Water will be caught on the screens 41 and 40 and will drip back along the walls of the throat 32 and find its way back into the trap.

' The accumulation of the dust and other foreign matter will result in the production of a sludge or heavily tqluirt laden bath which can be removed through the opening 42 when v the rcover 43 has been removed. The operation of the device can be readily observedl at all times through the window 44.

It will be noticed that the arrangement is one whichlends itself very advantageously to the present combination. This is because the passages and the weirs are so formed and related to each other that they not only bear the desired relationship to each other but also fit into combination with the essential por-A tions of the Vacuum cleaner in tageous manner.

While I have herein mentioned specifically `a very advanthe use of a water bath, it will be understood thatI other suitable liquids such as oils or the like "may be substituted in place of the water if desirable.

While I have herein and Idescribed I only asingle embodiment ofthe features of my present invention, still I do not intend to limit myself thereto except as I may do so in the claims. s' l I claim:

1. The combination with thedischarge connection of a vacuum cleaner, through which discharge connection is delivered sa stream of air and entrained foreign matter, said vacuum cleaner having an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle, of means for 'removing said foreign matter from said stream of air, said meanscomprising a housing having on one face a forwardlyextending connection for attachment to the delivery opening of the vacuumcleaner, and havingy within said Lhousingan upwardly extending weir, `a downwardly extending Weir,

and providing a passage extending upwardly l from said attachment over said first named Weir, then downwardly beneath said second named weir, and an upwardly extending return trap passage connected to said passage beyond said second named Weir, the return trap passage being of substantially double the cross-sectional area of the downwardly extending passage, the downwardly extendwardly extending passage aforesaid, said up- "I wardly and rearwardly extending passage lying substantially parallel to the handle of the vacuum cleaner, and/a vertically adjustable screen element within theupwardly and rearwardlyextending passage aforesaid for the removal of traces of water entrained in the air current, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having a rearwardly extending discharge connection through which is delivered a cur rent of air together with entrained foreign matter, said vacuum cleaner being also provided with an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle, of means for cleaning the` air current deliveredthrough said connection and removing entrained foreign matter therefrom, said means comprising a body mem' ber having a forwardly extending attach-l ment for cdnnection -to the delivery connec.- tion of the vacuum cleaner and having an upwardly extending wein and an inverted Weir, said body member providing a threepass trap passage comprising an upwardly extending arm reaching from the inlet connection aforesaid to the upper end of said first named weir, together with downwardly and upwardly extending arms reaching therefrom' beneath said inverted weir,'suit able liquid in the downwardly and upwardly extending armsr aforesaid constituting a liquid trap, lsaid body member also providing a delivery passage reaching from the upwardly extending arm forwardly to a po.

- sition close to the handle and then upwardly g and rearwardly at an angle substantially corresponding to the slope of the handle, avertically adjustable screen trap in the upwardly and rearwardly extending passage'afore- Said, and means for connecting said upwardly and rearwardly extending passage to the handle, substantially as described.A

3. The combination with a vacuum cleaner ha-ving a rearwardly extending discharge connection through which`is delivered a current of air together withentrained foreign matter, said vacuum cleaner being also provided with'an upwardly lrand rearwardly extending handle, of means lfor cleaning the air current delivered through said connection and removing entrained foreign matter therefrom, said means comprising a body suitable liquid inthe downwardly and upwardly extending arms aforesaid constithe upwardly extending arm forwardly to p tuting a liquid trap, said body member also providing a delivery passage reaching from a position close to the handle and then upwardly and rearwardly at an angle substantially corresponding to the slope of the handle, and means for connecting said upwardly and rearwardly extending passage to the handle, substantially as described.

4e. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having. a rearwardly extending discharge connectionthrough which4 is delivered a current of air together with entrained foreign matter, said vacuum cleaner being also provided with an upwardly and rarwardlylextending handle,'o`f means for cleaning the air current delivered through said connection and removing entrained foreign matterl therefrom, said means comprising a body member having a forwardly extending attachment for jconnection to the' delivery connection of the vacuum cleaner and the body t member also having a three-spass trap pas-4 lia sage comprising an upwardly extending arm reaching from the inlet connection aforesaid upwardly establishinga weir, together with downwardly and upwardly extending arms reaching therefrom establishing an inverted weir, suitable liquid in the downwardly and upwardly extending armsaforesaid constituting a liquid trap, said body member also including a delivery passage reaching from the upwardly extending arm forwardly to a position Oclose to the handle and then upf wardly and rearwardly at an angle substantially corresponding to the slope of the handle, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having a rearwardly extending connection through whichis delivered a current -of air together with entrained foreign matter, and also having an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle, of means for removing foreign matter from said current of air comprising a body member providing in'its lower portion a liquid trap, there being an inverted Lacasse ,Weir beneath which the current of air is` caused to flow during the yoperation of the device, said body member also including a forwardly extendingattachment for connection to the delivery connection of thevacuum cleaner, said body portion also providing an upwardly and rearwardly extending passage lying substantially parallel to and behind the handle of the vacuum cleaner, the lower portion of said passage being in connection with the delivery end of the liquid trap aforesaid, a downwardly and rearwardly curving lip in said connection serving to receive and deflect the current of air o'wing through said connection for the purpose of giving the same a swirling action to throw out entrained moisture, and means for connecting the upwardly and rearwardly extending portion of the device to the handle ofthe vacuum cleaner, substantially as described. 85

6. r'llhe combination with a vacuum cleaner having a rearwardly extending connection through which is delivered a current of air together with entrained foreign matter, and also having an upwardly and rearwardly ex'- tending handle, of means for removing f foreign matter from said current of air comprising a body member having in its lower portion a liquid trap, the body member having an inverted weir beneath which the cur'- rent of air is caused to How during the operation of the device, vsaid body member also including a forwardly extending attachment for connection tothe delivery connection of the vacuum cleaner, said body portion also 100 providing an upwardly and rearwardly extending passage lying substantially parallel to and behind the handle of the vacuum cleaner, the lower portion ofsaid passage being in connection with the delivery end of the liquid trap aforesaid, and means for connecting the upwardly rand rearwardly extending portion of the device to the handle of the vacuum cleaner, substantially as described.Y v

fr'. An air cleaner forfthe purpose specified, comprising a body member providing in its lower portion athree-passtrap including an upwardly extending inlet passage, a downwardly extending central passage and an upwardly extending return passage, an4 upwardly extending weir between the first and second mentioned passages, an inverted weir between the second and third mentioned passages, suitable liquid in the second and third mentioned passages establishing a liquid bath, a connection at the inlet end of the first mentioned passage to receive the incoming current of air together with entrained foreign matter, the body member also providing an upwardly and rearwardly extending delivery passage, the lower portion of which is in connection with the upper end of the third mentloned passage, "a downwardly and rearwardly curving lip in said connection, and an opening, together with a removable closure therefor, in said connection behind the position of the lip aforesaid permitting introduction and removal of the liquid bath andentrained matter when the device is tilted rearwardly, substantially as described.

WING NORD-TEM. 

